Bristol Rovers have been handed a double fitness boost to considerably strengthen the squad ahead of facing Oxford United on Saturday.
This morning the Gas manager Graham Coughlan confirmed Mark Little and Alex Rodman will both be in the matchday squad at the Memorial Stadium however Liam Sercombe is set to miss out again.
Coughlan said: "We are relatively healthy. We have got Mark Little and Alex Rodman coming through a couple of training sessions this week so fingers crossed [they will play this weekend]. I am having a look at them in this last training session this morning.
"As of yet I am not aware of any of any other issues. We are nearing full strength and we are all fit, raring to go and available.
“Litts and Rodders will definitely be involved as long as they come through this morning’s training session."
Winger Rodman was named on the bench for the club’s 2-0 victory at home over Tranmere Rovers but was not called upon by his manager, raising questions about his true readiness to play.
Coughlan explained: “Rodders picked up a knock against Blackpool [in the 2-0 defeat on the first day of the season], hence the reason he came off early at Bloomfield Road. He had a clash, actually with our goalkeeper, so he wasn’t quite right.
“He shouldn’t have gone out in the second half but he wanted to, he has gone out and struggled, he has struggled breathing because he has taken an impact on his ribs and chest.
"Alex has been struggling with that for a little bit but he has been battling through it, such is his character.
“He has come back and had a training session this week, was on the bench on Tuesday night and has another session under his belt today and if he ticks all the boxes today he is in contention to play.
“It is certainly better to have that competition. The squad is strong to a degree. It needs improving no doubt but we do have competition for places, I am just striving for that consistency, continuity and confidence from the players to keep that momentum. Play well, keep your jersey and stay in the team.”
However the news is less encouraging when it comes to attacking midfielder Liam Sercombe who has been ruled out for at least a couple of weeks after straining his groin in the 2-0 defeat to Coventry City last Saturday.
Coughlan said: “Liam is obviously the one player we haven’t got available tomorrow.
"We are still assessing Liam but at the moment it looks like he might be out for a couple weeks. We live in hope, he keeps saying it is settling down and getting better so that is a positive sign it is not as bad as we first thought. Initially we did fear the worst but it seems to be getting better day-by-day."
